A wave of fraudulent messages impersonating local officials is circulating on WhatsApp in Italy, prompting warnings from authorities and victims alike. The scam, which asks recipients for funds under false pretenses, has recently targeted the mayors of Pieve di Soligo and Vico nel Lazio, as well as numerous residents.
Stefano Soldan, the mayor of Pieve di Soligo, received a message requesting 850 euros for an urgent dental bill, according to local news outlet Qdpnews.it. The message, sent from a number mimicking a contact, claimed the sender lacked funds on their card and promised immediate reimbursement. Soldan, recognizing the attempt as a scam, reported the incident to the Postal Police.
“I have just heard from the Postal Police to report this latest frontier of scams,” Soldan stated, as reported by Qdpnews.it. “They reiterated that it is a scam that is circulating and that, if you receive one of these messages, you must absolutely do nothing. My appeal is not to respond or make transfers or anything else. Ignore these bizarre requests.”
The scam isn’t limited to Pieve di Soligo. Stefano Pelloni, the mayor of Vico nel Lazio, was likewise targeted with a similar request for 300 euros, ostensibly for dental treatment. Multiple citizens of Vico nel Lazio received SMS messages originating from a cloned version of Pelloni’s WhatsApp account, requesting the same amount for the same reason, according to Teleuniverso.it. Pelloni has filed a complaint with the Carabinieri and is urging residents to avoid responding to the messages or making any payments.
Authorities believe the scam operates by cloning a victim’s phone through a link, allowing the perpetrator to send fraudulent messages to the victim’s contacts. The Qdpnews.it report indicates that the scheme has already resulted in numerous complaints and formal denunciations.
The fraudulent messages specifically cite a demand for funds to cover dental expenses, a detail that appears consistently across reported cases. The urgency of the request and the promise of swift repayment are key elements of the deception.
Police advise anyone receiving such a message to ignore it, refrain from sending money, and report the incident to the authorities. The Postal Police are currently investigating the source and scope of the scam.
